REACH FOR THE STARS!

Theo Neilson's residency at Salaam Baalak Trust's Aasra home for boys in Paharganj.

In May 2015, Theo Neilson from the UK and Louis from France painted a mural with the boys at Salaam Baalak Trust's Aasra home in Paharganj. They stayed for 10 days to help the older boys at this short-stay home create an inspiring wall of colour and welcome.

Theo taught English to a group of older boys each morning and in the afternoon they all worked together on the mural. They painted a sky and space scene with planets and space ships and a rocket. "Reach for the stars" it says... On a second wall they painted a more pastoral landscape scene.

Thank you so much for inviting me to take a part in the charity. I never thought I'd be traipsing around Delhi with a broken toe in maddening heat - It's been a challenge but a very welcome one!

It was great fun to get to know the boys individually and to teach them but also to learn from them at the same time. I learnt about their lives before joining the trust, aspirations and outlooks on life all of which was fascinating and illuminated the amazing work the Salaam Baalak does (as well as the latest gossip on famous Bollywood actors).

I have a lot to thank the boys for. They were always keen to take an active roll in the painting project. Painting with them was incredibly fun, I was apprehensive at first at the site of these huge bare walls but everything ended up nicely fitting into place and I was very pleased that the younger kids were happy with it too. I loved teaching the boys English; watching them improve was very rewarding and they showed great diligence during the lessons.

I would love at some point to go back and visit the charity. In the meantime I'll be sure to let others to get in touch with you if they are interested in taking part in a project in Delhi.